Snow Possibly Coming, How Should I Prepare?

[urlocalcrazychickenlady]

As yall have prolly heard, they’re predicting a big snow storm across the south. How should I prepare my flock for this?

 

[nuthatched]

How much snow? Honestly , they'll likely care less than you do, other than the horror of "something new!".

 

[CCsGarden]

Make sure they have a nice area to hid/ stay warm in. How much snow do you think you'll be getting?

 

[urlocalcrazychickenlady]

They’re predicting anywhere between 5-30 inches

 

[nuthatched]

They’re predicting anywhere between 5-30 inches

They should be fine. You can keep them in to coop if it's big and ventilated enough.

 

[CCsGarden]

They’re predicting anywhere between 5-30 inches

Make sure they don't get wet. Let us know how it goes

 

[Ridgerunner]

As yall have prolly heard, they’re predicting a big snow storm across the south. How should I prepare my flock for this?

How many chickens do you have? I assume they are older than 5 weeks so you do not need to provide heat. How big is your coop? Is your run protected so snow cannot get in? I'm trying to get an idea of how packed they might be and what you are working with.

Chickens often do not like change. Waking up to a strange new world covered in white can be a pretty big change. When that happens mine usually stay in the coop for a couple of days, but if the snow lasts that long many are out roaming in it after two or three days. They soon discover that it is not going to hurt them.

One time the snow came in the daytime, about 1". They were already in the run when it started so the change was gradual enough they never got scared of it. They never acted differently because of the snow.

So what can you do? I don't know since I don't know what your facilities look like. I leave the pop door open and let them decide if they want to go out or not. Some people shovel the snow to create paths for them. Some might scatter hay, straw, wood shavings, or something on top of the snow to get them to walk on it with varying degrees of success. I keep food and water available as normal. I collect eggs as normal. I don't do anything different related to my chickens if it snows. Some people really worry about it.

 

[neo71665]

Mine are locked in their covered run with 2 five gallon bucket feeders and 5 gallons of water with a heater in it that is set up on a timer to run 1 hour in the morning. With all that they can easily last a week without even being let out.

They aint calling for snow here, just ice so be thankful you aint getting that.

 

[CCsGarden]

So it turns out I'm in the snow area as well. I'm starting to prepare the coops. I baby my chickens

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Be prepared for the stink eye when they see the white stuff that you allowed to get on the ground